COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The 2026 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Championship tipped off Tuesday night, with the tournament’s top four seeds advancing to the semifinal round.
Top-seeded Black Hills State University will host the remainder of the tournament at the Donald E. Young Center in Spearfish, South Dakota.
The Yellow Jackets will take on No. 4 Fort Lewis College, while No. 2 Colorado Mesa University faces No. 3 Colorado State University Pueblo, with the winners advancing to the championship game.
Quarterfinal Recaps
#1 Black Hills State def. #8 UCCS, 74-73
SPEARFISH, South Dakota. – The top-seeded Yellow Jackets punched their ticket to the next round of the conference tournament with a thrilling win over the University of Colorado Colorado Springs inside A2 Arena. Jaeton Hackley led Black Hills State University with 21 points, while Jack Haggett added 17 to give the Yellow Jackets a pair of double-digit scorers. Xavier Martinez poured in a game-high 28 points for the Mountain Lions, fueling a dominant first half that gave UCCS a 41-26 advantage at the break. Behind Martinez’s scoring surge, the Mountain Lions controlled much of the second half, keeping the top seed at bay. However, the Yellow Jackets methodically chipped away at the deficit before finally seizing the lead in the closing minutes. The game ultimately came down to the final possession. Clinging to a one-point lead, Black Hills State turned to its defense as Martinez drove baseline against BHSU's Cam Lowe. Lowe stood his ground and contested a potential game-winning 10-foot jumper, sealing the dramatic victory for the Yellow Jackets.
#2 Colorado Mesa def. #7 New Mexico Highlands, 91-90
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – No. 2 Colorado Mesa University protected its home floor in dramatic fashion, defeating No. 7 New Mexico Highlands University 91-90 in an overtime thriller. The Mavericks came out firing, racing to a 9-0 lead before the Cowboys answered with a surge of their own, taking their first advantage at 16-15. From there, the teams traded blows throughout the remainder of the first half and well into the second, with neither side able to create separation. Deadlocked at the end of regulation, the contest moved to overtime, where the intensity only heightened. The Cowboys poured in 15 points in the extra period, but the Mavericks matched them shot for shot, scoring 16 in the five-minute frame. With just four seconds remaining and the score sitting at 91-90, New Mexico Highlands stepped to the free-throw line with a chance to seize control. The Cowboys missed both attempts, and Colorado Mesa secured the rebound as time expired, clinching its semifinal berth.
#3 CSU Pueblo def. #6 Colorado School of Mines, 82-70
PUEBLO, Colo. – The ThunderWolves punched their ticket to the semifinals of the 2026 RMAC Men’s Basketball Championship with a hard-fought win over the Colorado School of Mines. The opening half was tightly contested, as neither side managed to build a double-digit advantage. Colorado State University Pueblo carried a 41-32 edge into the break after closing the half on a strong run. Riding that momentum, the ThunderWolves continued their balanced attack in the second half, adding another 41 points while limiting Mines to 37 to secure the victory. Markus Pastorcic-Straun led all scorers with 24 points for the Orediggers. CSU Pueblo countered with a team-oriented effort, paced by Jordan Blair with 20 points. Blair was joined in double figures by Mac Terry (14), Dylan Sanders (13), Jaden Kennis (12), and Bryce Riehl (10), highlighting the ThunderWolves’ depth in the win.
#4 Fort Lewis def. #5 Adams State, 88-72
DURANGO, Colo. – Fort Lewis College secured its place in the semifinal round of the 2026 RMAC Conference Tournament with an 88-72 victory over Adams State University. The Skyhawks controlled the game from the outset, taking a 48-36 lead into halftime after an efficient first-half performance. They carried that momentum into the second frame, adding 40 points while holding the Grizzlies to 36 to seal the decisive win. Stewart Erhart led the charge with 32 points and seven steals. The Tanana, Alaska, native shot an impressive 63.6% from the field, 40% from beyond the arc, and a perfect 100% from the free-throw line, powering the Skyhawks into the next round of the RMAC Championship.